Rue Crémieux. A social media obsession in Paris

The battle for peace on Rue Crémieux

There is no denying that this stunning street in the nation’s capital, has the perfect ingredients for an Instagram story. It’s located in the 12th arrondissement, alongside the hippest districts in Paris. Plus, it feels quintessentially French as it’s a cobbled street. But, most importantly, the creme de la creme of this gorgeous rue – is its unquestionable uniqueness. Rue Crémieux is the only residential haven we know of in the capital, with pretty cotton-candy, pastel-coloured houses and apartments.

The traditional apartment buildings that adorn Paris are admittedly, absolutely stunning; but the beautifully painted homes, on this 170m long street, really stand out against that more traditional canvas. The trés beau shutters, street art and terracotta plant pots dotted along the paving, filled with wild greenery, just add to the allure of Rue Crémieux. And this is why it has become such a huge Instagram sensation.

Rue Crémieux, as you can see, has a colourful charming wow factor, making it the perfect place to capture beautiful images in a picturesque setting. Which is why photographers and tourists just can’t seem to get enough of it.

“We keep seeing people twerking” said an unhappy resident

Every day, Instagrammers, Youtubers and many tourists, flock to this discreet street, taking shots and family snaps to share on social media. But, nothing is wrong with this, in theory, right? Especially given that Paris is, in our opinion, the most beautiful capital in the world, almost every inch of this city is fair game! Plus, Instagrammers help enhance this carefully cultivated image, so what’s the problem?

Well, some of the residents living in Rue Crémieux have had enough! Many have started to aggressively voice their despair at the constant attention their abodes are getting. So fed-up are they with the music videos, fashion shoots and the endless parade of prying eyes and cameras, they’re lobbying for assistance from local government, to bring this nuisance to an end.

Of course, we sympathise! We can’t imagine what it would be like waking up to a merry band of twerkers first thing, but it’s a tricky situation. Paris is revered and markets’ itself on beauty, so isn’t this just an occupational hazard? Some of the neighbours of the disgruntled inhabitant we quoted above, feel differently.

One told a local newspaper “It’s livable for me, I don’t see any hostility. Yes, there are hundreds of people taking photos….but for me it is not hell. The people are coming for a good time and in the evening it is calm.”

Another said. “The street is public and pedestrian, it is normal that it attracts people. We are especially lucky to live in this setting. And all in all the tourists are rather kind and understanding although it is true that there are sometimes people intrusive and not respectful. It can annoy. ”

The problem, however, has arrived on the desks of officials at the Mayor’s office, who have been looking into the issue for a while. Filming is already prohibited but there seem to be issues with regards to enforcing the rule.

The mayor of the district Catherine Baratti-Elbaz and Jean-Francois Martins a deputy, are trying to come up with a satisfactory proposal for the conundrum.

“We are in constant contact with the local residents’ association. We have already put up signs and we regulate activities in this street. We have also removed the promotion of the street from the website of the tourist office and congresses of Paris…and we asked the regional committee of tourism of Ile-de-France to do the same. Now we will study the parking of tourist buses and find solutions for possible access control. Paris is very proud to be a city that attracts tourists but it is also a city where we live. We must find the balance. ”

Bar it being a gated rue de Paris, it is going to be super tricky keeping people away from an adored street in a city that attracts the largest number of tourists in the world. It’s a tall order! In fact, all this sudden publicity around the ‘problem’ has just amplified awareness of Rue Crémieux and will likely attract more interest and therefore visitors, as this story has literally gone global!

1 Comment

Like you Claudette, I sympathize with the residents somewhat. When I took that picture you featured the street was not the sensation it’s become in the last couple of years. I ride past it most days and back in early 2017 when I shot that picture, you would see just one or two tourists every so often. Now when I ride past there (as I will in just a few minutes) there are always quite a few people and even tour groups! I’ve seen dancers, fashion models, and people being loud and excited, so yes I can totally understand the resident’s anguish.

However, just as Portobello Road in London ‘suffers’ from the same problem, one surely needs to understand that when you create a noteworthy street that is highly photogenic in one of the most visited cities in the world, you are creating an attraction.

It’s a very tricky situation and I await with interest to see what the city will do.

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